Institute for Nursing Centers (INC)

Funding Source: W. K. Kellogg Foundation

Project Period: September 1, 2003 - August 31, 2008

Project Coordinator: Lynn Breer, PhD

The Institute for Nursing Centers (INC) is a national organization of key stakeholders promoting direct access to high quality, affordable and cost-effective health care services to the nation’s communities via nurse managed health centers (NMHCs). NMHCs are primary health care centers where the majority of care is provided by nurse practitioners. INC’s main focus consists of developing a national data warehouse for NMHCs consisting of demographic, clinical, and financial information. The data are used to inform policy related to the work of NMHCs and to inform NMHCs about their clinical and financial status in order to promote the sustainability of NMHCs. The data are collected via an annual in depth survey completed by NMHCs. In addition, INC has an electronic health record initiative that assists INC in collecting patient demographic, clinical, and quality of care data. INC also provides consultation services for starting and/or sustaining NMHCs and offers educational materials for nurse practitioners and students. These materials include webcasts on pertinent topics such as billing and coding as well as manuals and educational modules for nursing faculty to utilize as part of their curriculum.

More information about INC can be found at www.nursingcenters.org.

Project Type: Evaluation, Research, Program Management, Data Management